Jet cleaning apparatus and groove router for concrete pavements



R. B. HOLIFIELD JET CLEANING APPARATUS AND GROOVE Oct. i?, i967ROUTER'FOR CONCRETE PAVEMENTS Filed Oct. 23. 1965' 3 Sheets-Sheet l YATTORN EY @CL 17, 1957 R. B. HoLlFn-:LD 3,347,597

JET CLEANING APPARATUS AND GROOVE ROUTER FOR CONCRETE PAVEMENTS FiledOct. 25, 1965 3 Sheets-ShaftI 2 INVENTOR ROBERT B. HOLIFIELD BYvATTORNEY JET CLEANING APPARATUS AND GROOVE ROUTER' FOR CONCRETEPAVEMENTS OC- 17, 1957 R. B. HOLIFIELD 3,347,597

'Filed oct. 23, 1965 s sheetssheet s 1 A:Vlg/'n' A' F 1g. IO

v INVENTOR ROBERT B. HOLYIFIELD BY @i UW@ ATTORNEY United States PatentOffice 3,347,597 Patented Oct. 17, 1967 This invention relates toapparatus and method for cleaning and routing out the joints in concretepavements to remove sealants, and the accumulation of undesirableforeign materials, preparatory to the replacement of fillers andsealants along the joints.

Concrete pavements, such as aircraft landing and taxiing strips, hangarfloors, parking areas and roadways are commonly comprised of sectionswhose abutments are filled with sealants, generally composed ofasphaltic materials, serving to prevent the destructive effects ofwater, and-other deleterious materials, from entering the joints andundermining the pavement. Such fillers and sealants, being of an elasticcharacter provide for expansion and contraction, or linear movement ofthe concrete sections when affected by temperature changes, loadstresses, and other factors.

It is of particular importance to maintain the alignment of the sectionsof concrete along aircraft runways and adjacent taxiing areas, and whennecessary, remove all dust, grit, and other materials from the jointsbetween the concrete sections, as well as all surface areas, which maybe sucked into aircraft engines resulting in malfunctions and thuspresenting hazards which should be meticulously avoided.

The elastic-like sealant materials used in filling the joints betweenthe concrete sections will, in due time, deterioriate and becomeimpregnated with sand, grit, and other undesirable materials, and mustbe periodically replaced. Due to expansion, contraction, settling of theearth beneath the pavements, load stresses, and other factors, fractureswill occur in the concrete sections which must be thoroughly cleaned andsealed and in order to insure a positive and permanent seal, the cracksor fractures should be routed out to a suitable depth and uniform widthto receive the sealant material.

A variety of apparatus and mechanisms have been devised for routing orplowing out the joints Ibetween concrete pavement sections, and cleaningthese joints by removing any loose substances therefrom but many suchdevices fail to perform their function in a completely satisfactorymanner. The invention is designed to provide a mechanism embodyingfeatures by which the operations here under consideration can beeffectively accomplished.

A prime `object of the invention, therefore, is that of providing asimple and economical device by which the so-called expansion joints, aswell as cracks and fractures in concrete pavements, can be routed out toremove deteriorated and impotent sealants and filler materials, with anyaccumulated foreign matter, and at once remove the dirt and grit andloose aggregate from the joints and fractures whereby repairs can beaccomplished and the pavement maintained in its proper condition byrefilling the cleaned joints and fractures with a fresh sealant.

Another object of the invention is that of providing a mechanism whichmay be readily attached to a conventional vehicle, or operativelyconnected to a unit of special design, as desired, and propelled therebyalong the affected joints and fractures.

Due the varying character of the materials to be removed from theoriginally defined joints, which depends largely upon the type of fillerinitially employed and which it is desirable to replace, an object ofthe invention is that of providing controlled pressure means for the airjet stream utilized in dislodging the loosened materials from the jointsin the wake of the plow or routing element, such jet action requiringfrom 50() to 4,000 p.s.i. for Ibest performance, and necessitating areasonably close tolerance in pressure controls to avoid widening `thejoint or groove beyond a specified dimension.

Broadly, the invention contemplates the provision of apparatus forcleaning the joints and fractures in concrete pavements in which isembodied mechanical features by which the affected joints and fracturescan be thoroughly divested of all materials therein, of whatevercharacter, and maintained at uniform widths and depths, and to provide amethod by which the joints and fractures can be adequately prepared toreceive a fresh application of a sealant at a minimum of cost andsubstantial saving in time and labor.

While the foregoing objects are paramount, other and lesser objects willbecome apparent as the description proceeds when considered inconnection with the appended drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational View of the invention attached forwardlyof a typical propelling vehicle, showing the device in operativeposition as it is moved along a joint.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the mechanism illustrating the carriage, theplows and jet assemblies, the pump and fluid conduit, and hydraulicdepth control.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the invention inoperative arrangement, showing the spring tensioned plows, thetensioning adjustment mechanisms, the shoes and jet element.

FIGURE 4 is a bottom view of the invention showing the relativepositions of the plows and the jet element.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the jet nozzle.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary side view of the front end of the carriagesupporting a surface cleaning attachment embodying an air conduit andmanifold having a plurality of jets thereon.

FIGURE 7 is a plan view of the structure shown in FIGURE 6, the jetsbeing shown in dotted lines.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary plan view of a typical concrete pavementshowing, in grid fashion, a series of eX- pansion joints and repairedfractures traversing the surface.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary sectional View, on line 9`9 of FIGURE 8,showing a typical sectional joint having .a sealant therein.

FIGURE 10 is another fragmentarysectional View, on line lltl of FIGURE9, showing one type of fracture or crack in the concrete slab havingbeen cleaned and repaired, and

FIGURE lll is another sectional view, on line 11-11 of FIGURE 9, showingstill'another type of fracture having been cleaned and shaped, andfilled with a sealant.

The mechanism comprising the apparatus consists of a pair of plows 10and 11 having shank portions 12 and 13 which extend downwardly andincline forwardly of their supporting carriage, generally designated bythe numeral 14, and have beam portions 15 and 16 which are normally in ahorizontal plane and whose forward ends are rolled to' form integralsleeves y17 and 18 through which pins 19 and 20 are arranged to providea limited hinging action for the plows 10 and 11, as shown in FIGURE 3,

The carriage 14, shown in detail in FIGURES 3 and 4, includes a housing21 which is arcuate in transverse section, having downwardly andoutwardly curved sides 22 and 23, and secured along the lower edge ofeach of the sides 22 and 23 is a runner or shoe 24. The housing 21 has apair of parallel plates 25 and 26 welded longitudinally thereof, andlaterally spaced, along its crown defining an open channel 27. Welded toeach of the plates 25-and 26 at their rearrmost ends, are angular plates28 and 29 which extend rearwardly beyond the rearmost ends of the plates25 and 26, as shown particularly in FIGURE 3.

The plows and 11 are in tandem alignment and arranged at opposite endsof the housing 21, and the rearmost plow 11 is supported between theforward ends of the plates 28 and 29 on its pin 20. While the forwardend of the housing 21 has a concavo-convex closure 30, shown in FIGURES3 and 4, the rear` end has an opening 31 in its lower portion throughwhich the shank portion 13 of the rearmost plow 11 extends, projectingdownwardly at an obtuse angle into the housing 21, as best shown inFIGURES 3 and 4.

Welded to the forward ends of the plates and 26 are angular plates 32and 33 which extend beyond the forward ends of the plates 25 and 26 andthrough which the pin 19 is arranged, the latter providing a support forthe forward plow 10, the pin 19 being arranged through the sleeve 17formed by rolling the end of the beam portion 15 of the plow 10. Theshank portion 12 of the plow 10 extends downwardly at an obtuse anglethrough an opening 34 in the top of the housing 21 near the frontclosure thereof, as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4.

A router blade 35 is attached by bolts 36 to the lower end of each ofthe shanks 12 and 13 of the plows 10 and 11, and each may be reversiblehaving a point 37 on each end. Each blade 35 has a shoe 38 integrallysecured,`

as by welding, to one of its edges adjacent to the point 37 whose planeis angular with respect to that of the plow shank, and engages thesurface 39 of the pavement 40 on one side of the groove 41 and functionsas a depth gauge for the points 37 so as to insure a uniform depth,

as indicated by reference to FIGURES 1 and 3, and to enable the plow topass across the open transverse grooved joints.

Each of the plows 10 and 11 is biased against the work by a compressionspring 42 whose lower` end engages the top surface of each beam 15 and16 of the plows 10 and 11, extending through a stationary guide ring 43,each of whose sides is welded or otherwise secured to the laterallyspaced and vertical leg members 44 of an inverted elongated U-shapedelement 45, the lowermost ends of the members 44 being welded to theinner upper surfaces of the plates 28, 29, 32 and33, as shown in FIGURES3 and 4, and embrace thefbeams 15 and 16 of the plows 10 and 11.

Each of the elements 45 has an aperture 46in the horizontal portion 47,which connects the leg members 44, and an internally threaded nut 48 iswelded thereon to register with the aperture 46. A threaded shaft 49 isarranged through the nut 48 and has a disc 50 attached to its lowermostend bearing upon `the upper end of the compression spring 42. A crank 51is attached to the upper end of the shaft 49 by which it can be rotatedandthreaded upwardly or downwardly `to control the yieldable pressureapplied to the plows 10 and 11 according to the particular requirements.

The carriage 14 is connected to a frame 52 comprising a pair of parallelbeams 53 and 54 which are spaced apart, as shown in FIGURE 2, and havetheir inner ends pivotally connected `to the propelling vehicle 55. Theframe 52 can be raised and lowered on its pivots 56 by hydraulicplungers 57 pivotally attached to the beams 53 and 54 and operating incylinders 58 whose ends are pivotally connected to the forward end ofthe vehicle 55, as best shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.

The beams 53 and 54 of the frame 52 are connected by transverse members59 and 60, the former being arranged between the foremost ends of thebeams 53 and 54, while the 'member 60 is spaced rearwardly from themember 59 above the carriage 14 which is connected to the member 60 by avertically arranged hydraulic ram rassembly 61 which comprises acylinder 62 and a palr of opposingly actuated plungers 63 and 64. Theupper plunger 63 has aclevis 65 on its outer end which is hingedlysecured by a pin 66 to a lug 67 integrally secured to the underside ofthe transverse membert.`

Arranged transversely of the channel 27, between the parallel plates 25and 26 defining the same, are plates 68 which form a rectangular housing69 rearwardly of the forwardplow 10. Each of the transverse plates 68has an elongated block 70 welded along its upper edge andextendinginwardly to form a relatively narrow slot 71 therebetweenthrough which is` arranged a block 72 having a plate 73 secured to itslower end bearing against the upper end of a compression spring 74seated in the housing 69.

The `upper end of the block 72 is apertured and is hingedly connected toa clevis 75 on the lower end of the plunger 64 by a pin 76. The cylinder62 has hydraulic fluid lines 77 and 78 connected into its opposite endswhereby controlled pressured can be imposed upon the carriage 14, thevspring 74 providing for a degree of yieldability as the device is movedalong vthe pavement 40.

Depending from the forward ends of the beams 52 and S3, and rigidlyconnected` thereto, are hitch elements 79 having a shaft 80 pivoted ateach end to their lowermost ends. A link 81 is rigidly attached to theshaft 80, intermediate its ends, and is pivotally coupled, through auniversal joint 82, to a tubular draft link 83 whose inner end isconnected through a universal joint 84 to the front end of the carriage14, as shown in FIGURES 1, 2, 3 and 4.

-It is apparent that, by reason of the flexible connections between thecarriage 14 and the supporting frame 52, the

. plows 10 and 11 can4 be easily `guided along the joints and fracturesin the pavement 40 while controlling `the downward pressures requiredthrough the medium of thesolvent, is directed into the groove 41 througha jet 86 connected to the lower end of a nozzle 87 by a fitting 88, asshown in FIGURES 3 and 4, and in detail in FIG- URE 5.

The nozzle 87 is secured to the carriage 14 by a clamp 89 and extendsldownwardly at an obtuse angle through an opening 99 in the top of thehousing 21 of the carriage 14, and approximately intermediate the endsthereof, as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4. The opposite end of the nozzle 87is connected through a flexible tube 91 by a coupling 92 to a conduit 93connected to a pump 94 on` the forward portion of the vehicle 55 whichdraws water or solutions from the reservoir 95 in the bottom ofthevehicle 55. The pump 94 is driven by the vehicle motor 96 mounted on therear thereof through a shaft 97, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. An aircompressor 98 is mounted on the vehicle 55 adjacent to the pump 94,whichv is also driven by the motor 96, :through a shaft 99 and has aconnection 100 with the water pump 94.

In FIGURES 6 and 7 is illustrated a sweeper attach,

ment comprising an air or water manifold 101 having a series of jets 1024in its underside. The manifold 101 .is tubular and has a rigidconnection intermediate its ends with a conduit 103 which may beconnected to the reservoir 95 through the pump 94 or directly to the aircom-y pressor 98. The manifold 101 is transverse to the direction oftravel of the vehicle 55 and is supported on the forward end of theframe 52 by lthe member 79 and the shaft 80 in the place of the assemblyshown in FIGURES 1 and 2. The conduit 103 is suspended by a clamp 104from the transverse element 60 between the frame beams 53 and 54, asshown in FIGUR-ES 6 and 7.

By this arrangement the surface 39 of the pavement 40, as well as thegrooves 41, can be cleaned of all loose dirt and grit, and otherundesirable matter, either by a compressed air blast or by a water bath.

In FIGURE `8 is fragmentarily shown .a typical grid pattern of apavement such as may be used as an aircraft runway or taxiing strip, thejoints 105 and 106 between the sections 107 being of different widths,as desired, and arranged both longitudinally and transversely of thepavement 40. The wider joints 105 and 106 conventionally occur betweensections of the pavement 40 when originally laid and expansion strips108, comprised of wood, or other suitable material, separates thesections below the surface 39 thereof, as shown in FIGURE 9.

A water proof sealant, usually an asphaltic material 109, is used tofill the groove 41 above the expansion strip 108 to the level of thesurface 39. The sealant material 109, after periods of time, dependingupon such factors as climate, load stresses, and the like, willdeteriorate and must be removed and replaced. The removal of the spentsealant 85 can be accomplished by the plows 10 and 11, as shown inFIGURE 3, and as previously described, and the radii 110 along each sideof the joint are formedto insure an even surface over which the traiccan move with a minimum of vibratory action.

Fractures or cracks 111 often occur in pavements, and may follow anycourse, such as the typical fractures shown in FIGURES 10 and 11. Thesemay be plowed out, or grooved to a predetermined depth by the plows 10and 11, and the radii 110 formed along the edges of the resultinggrooves 112 and a sealant 109 injected thereinto to prevent furtherdamage and repair the surface 39. In some instances the fracture 111 isplowed out to a depth below that of the normal groove, and somewhatnarrower, whereby an expansion strip 113 can be inserted, as indicatedin FIGURE 10, and a ller or sealant 109 injected into lthe groove 41thereabove.

In operation, as the mechanism lis moved along a joint 105 or 106 theplows 10 and 11 are lowered thereinto by the operation of the hydraulicram 58 to lower the frame 52 supporting the carriage 14. Pressure can beapplied to the carriage 14 to hold it firmly against the surface 39 ofthe pavement 40 through the hydraulic cylinder 62 and its plungers 63and 64. Tension is applied to each of the plows 10 and 11, as desired,through the cranks 51 and their springs 42.

As the carriage 14 is moved along the surface 39 on its runners or shoes24 yieldability to lthe uneven surfaces is provided through thecompression spring 74, and cornplete exibility is provided 4through thecouplings on each end of the cylinder 62 and the universal joints 82 and84 in the linkage 81 and 83 by which the carriage 14 is connected to itssupporting frame 52.

A compartment 114 is provided on the vehicle 55 for the operator,including a seat 115 and a steering device 116. Access to the plows 10and 11, and the nozzle 86 may be had through openings on each side ofthe housing 21 which are closed by removable plates 117.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in its preferredembodiment, certain structural changes and arrangement of parts may beresorted to by persons skilled in the art wi-thout departing from thespirit and intent thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In apparatus for cleaning and routing out expansion joints and cracksin concrete pavements, such as airport runways, to remove old anddecomposed llers and sealants and accumulated foreign materials fromsaid expansion joints and to enlarge and shape said cracks, preparatoryto replacing said llers and sealants and filling said cracks, thecombination of an automotive vehicle having a frame, an elongated boomhaving one of its ends pivotally connected to the frame of said vehicle,forwardly thereof, and normally extending substantially horizontally,forwardly of said vehicle, hydraulically operable means acting on saidframe and said boom whereby the inclination of said boom may be adjustedwithin predetermined limits, an elongated skid below said boom having apair of supporting runners engageable with a concrete pavement onopposite sides of an expansion joint or crack therein, draft meanswhereby said skid is connected to said boom, suspension means wherebysaid skid is connected to said boom rearwardly of said draft connection,a pair of plows on said skid in tandem relation to each other,engageable with an expansion joint or crack in a concrete pavement, adownwardly extending nozzle on said skid, between said plows, arrangedto direct a stream of fluid at high velocity against an expansion jointor crack in a concrete pavement in the path of said plows, means on saidvehicle for supplying fluid to said nozzle at predeterminedsuperatmospheric pressure and means on said skid enclosing said plowsand said nozzle and confining fluid as discharged from said nozzle andsuch material as may be displaced from an expansion joint or crack in aconcrete pavement against which such iluid may be directed.

2. The structure of claim 1, said suspension means including a hydraulicram having a pair of relatively movable members adjustablelongitudinally and rotatively relative to each other, one of saidmembers being pivotally connected to the under side of said boom wherebyit is adjustable rotatively relative thereto about a horizontal axisextending substantially parallel to said boom, a spring housing on saidskid having a compression spring therein, a plunger having one of itsends received in said spring housing, in opposing relation to saidspring, and secured against rotation relative to said housing, andhaving the end thereof opposite said one of its ends pivotally connectedto the other of said members whereby it is adjustable rotativelyrelative thereto about a horizontal axis extending substantiallyparallel to said skid, the arrangement being such that said skid ispivotally and flexibly connected to said boom, in spaced apart relationthereto, and may be freely suspended therefrom, while at the same timeany desired superatmospheric pressure may be yieldably applied to saidskid, to increase the effective Weight thereof, by operation of saidhydraulic ram.

3. The structure of claim 1, said plows each having a downwardly andforwardly inclined shank portion having a router blade removablyconnected to its lower end, and having a forwardly extending beamportion continuous with the upper end of said shank portion, said beamportion `being pivotally connected, forwardly thereof, to sai-d skid forrotative adjustment about a horizontal axis, and adjustable meansincluding a compression spring acting on said beam portion to urge itdownwardly about its pivot,

4. The structure of claim 1, said draft means including a rigid downwardextension 0f said boom, forwardly thereof, a draw bar having one of itsends pivotally connected to the lowermost extremity of said downwardextension for rotative adjustment about a horizontal axis extendingtransversely of said boom, and linkage including a pair of universaljoints connecting said draw bar to said skid.

5. The structure of claim 1, and sweeper means, interchangeable withsaid skid, including a fluid' conduit having means whereby it isremovably suspended from said boom and extending longitudinally of saidboom and below it, said conduit being in iiuid communication with saidmeans on said vehicle for supplying iiuid to said first mentioned nozzleat predetermined superatmospheric pressure, and a manifold communicatingwith said conduit, forwardly thereof, and extending transversely of saidboom, forwardly thereof, in close proximity to the ground in one of itsoperative positions, said manifold having a plurality of longitudinallyspaced, `downwardly facing nozzles communicating with its under side.

6. The combination of an automotive vehicle having a frame, an elongatedboom having one of its ends pivotally connected to said frame, forwardlythereof, and normally extending substantially horizontally, forwardly ofsaid vehicle, hydraulically operable means acting on said frame and saidboom whereby the inclination of said boom may be adjusted withinpredetermined limits, an elongated skid below said boom having a pair ofsupporting runners on opposite sides thereof, draft means whoreby saidskid` is connected to vsaid boom, forwardly therelo of, suspension meanswhereby said skid is connected to said boom rearwardly of said `draftconnection, and a plow on said skid, said plow having a downwardly andforwardly inclined shank portion having a router blade CII wardlyextending beam portion continuous with the upper end of said shankportion, said beam portion being pivotally connected, forwardly thereof,to said skid for rotative adjustment about a horizontal axis, andadjustable References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,169,916 8/1939Keeler 299-36 3,020,813 2/1962 Gross 94--39 3,043,200 7/ 1962 Huttash299-36 X removably vconnected to its lower end, and having a for- 15ERNEST R. PURSER, Primary Examiner.

1. IN APPARATUS FOR CLEANING AND ROUTING OUT EXPANSION JOINTS AND CRACKSIN CONCRETE PAVEMENTS, SUCH AS AIRPORT RUNWAYS, TO REMOVE OLD ANDDECOMPOSED FILLERS AND SEALANTS AND ACCUMULATED FOREIGN MATERIALS FROMSAID EXPANSION JOINTS AND TO ENLARGE AND SHAPE SAID CRACKS, PERPARATORYTO REPLACING SAID FILLERS AND SEALANTS AND FILLING SAID CRACKS, THECOMBINATION OF AN AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE HAVING A FRAME, AN ELONGATED BOOMHAVING ONE IF ITS ENDS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE FRAME OF SAID VEHICLE,FORWARDLY THEREOF, AND NORMALLY EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTALLY,FORWARDLY OF SAID VEHICLE, HYDRAULICALLY OPERABLE MEANS ACTING ON SAIDFRAME AND SAID BOOM WHEREBY THE INCLINATION OF SAID BOOM MAY BE ADJUSTEDWITHIN PREDETERMINED LIMITS, AN ELONGATED SKID BELOW SAID BOOM HAVING APAIR OF SUPPORTING RUNNERS ENGAGEABLE WITH A CONCRETE PAVEMENT ONOPPOSITE SIDES OF AN EXPANSION JOINT OR CRACK THEREIN, DRAFT MEANSWHEREBY SAID SKID IS CONNECTED TO SAID BOOM, SUSPENSION MEANS WHEREBYSAID SKID CONNECTED TO SAID BOOM REARWARDLY OF SAID DRAFT CONNECTION, APAIR OF PLOWS ON SAID SKID IN TANDEM RELATION TO EACH OTHER, ENGAGEABLEWITH AN EXPANSION JOINT OR CRACK IN A CONCRETE PAVEMENT, A DOWNWARDLYEXTENDING NOZZLE ON SAID SKID, BETWEEN SAID PLOWS, ARRANGED TO DIRECT ASTREAM OF FLUID AT HIGH VELOCITY AGAINST AN EXPANSION JOINT OR CRACK INA CONCRETE PAVEMENT IN THE PATH OF SAID PLOWS, MEANS ON SAID VEHICLE FORSUPPLYING FLUID TO SAID NOZZLE AT PREDETERMINED SUPERATMOSHPERICPRESSURE AND MEANS ON SAID SKID ENCLOSING SAID PLOWS AND SAID NOZZLE ANDSUCH CONFINING FLUID AS DISCHARGED FROM SAID NOZZLE AND SUCH MATERIAL ASMAY BE DISPLACED FROM AN EXPANSION JOINT OR CRACK IN A CONCRETE PAVEMENTAGAINST WHICH SUCH FLUID MAY BE DIRECTED.